Domestic and Foreign Policy

The policy making process is outlined in the U.S. Constitution. Article I of the U.S. Constitution

provides instruction on both the policy process as well as those areas of public policy for which

Congress is responsible (see Benchmark 3.3). Article I, Section 8 outlines those policy areas

within Congress’ purview. Several of these policy areas have both domestic and foreign policy

implications. These policy areas include:

The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises,

To …provide for the common Defence

…all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;

To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations,…

To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization,…

To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offenses

against the Law of Nations;

To declare War, …

To raise and support Armies, …

To provide and maintain a Navy;

Domestic Policy

Congress has the power to make laws and policies with the sole purpose of impacting citizen and

non-citizen behavior in the U.S.

Domestic

Policy Area

Description Example

Social Welfare Providing economic and

other assistance to those in

need

Social Security-retirement income for the

elderly.

Health Care Providing health assistance

and support.

Medicare –medical care for the elderly.

Education Providing teaching and

learning support to students

through high school and

college

No Child Left Behind-education standards

and accountability

Foreign Policy

Congress has the power to make laws and policies with the purpose of impacting citizen and non-

citizen behavior outside the U.S. and international relations.

Foreign

Policy

Instrument

Description Example

Diplomacy the work of keeping up

relations between the

governments of different

countries

Marshall Plan (European Recovery Plan)

1948-1951 (see Benchmark 4.3)

Alliance a union between nations for

assistance and protection

North Atlantic Treaty Organization

(NATO; an alliance established by a

treaty) (see Benchmark 4.2)

Treaty an agreement or

arrangement between two

or more countries

Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT

I) 1972 (see Benchmark 3.3)

Domestic and Foreign Policy

Relationships How the U.S. interacts with other nations is often related to domestic policy.

Congress’ use of its power to raise and support armies articulated in Article I, Section 8, is related

to international relations.

The greater the domestic threat from foreign enemies, the greater the likelihood that Congress will

increase military spending.

In the 1990s, for example, military spending declined after the fall of communism (except in Cuba

and China). At the same time, international relations changed for the U.S. with the fall of

communism as more nations became democracies after the fall of communism which was

symbolized with the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1990.

Domestic policies relating to naturalization affect migration and immigration patterns. Similarly,

relationships between the U.S. and other nations impacts and is impacted by trade between those

nations.

War Powers and the President

The United States Constitution divides war powers between Congress and the

President.

Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution grants Congress the power to

declare war, control war funding, raise and support the armed forces, and

affirms the “Power…to make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for

carrying into Execution…all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the

Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.”

Article II, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution states that, “The President shall

be commander in chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the

militia of the several states, when called into the actual service of the United

States…” (see Benchmark 3.3)

Congressional Declarations of War

Congress has declared war five times; two of these wars took place in the 20th

Century.

War Description

World War I (1914-1918;

the U.S. entered World

War I in 1917)

The Triple Entente of Great Britain, France and Russia

goes to war against the Triple Alliance: Germany,

Austria-Hungary and Italy. The United States stays

neutral until it can no longer ignore German submarine

attacks on passenger and merchant ships.

World War II (1939-1945;

the U.S. entered World

War II in 1941)

Attack on Pearl Harbor, which leads to U.S. engagement

in World War II. During the war, President Franklin

Roosevelt wields great, unchecked power. The slogan

"politics stops at the water's edge" represented new

bipartisanship in foreign policy.

The President as Commander in Chief

Presidents have often interpreted their role as Commander-in-

Chief as allowing them to use the U.S. military to “…preserve,

protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States,” as

stated in their Oath of Office.

Presidents have used the U.S. military frequently without formal

declarations of war from Congress. Some of the best known

examples of the president acting as Commander-in-Chief without

a formal declaration of war from Congress include the Korean

War (1950-1953), the Vietnam War (1964-1975), Gulf War I

(1990-1991), and Gulf War II (2003-present).

U.S. Response to International Events

Event Description

Bay of Pigs

(1961)

a bay of the Caribbean Sea in Cuba: it was the site of an attempted

invasion of Cuba by anti-Fidel Castro forces in April 1961

Cuban

Missile

Crisis

(1962)

in 1962, leaders of the U.S. and the Soviet Union engaged in a tense,

13-day political and military standoff in October over the

installation of nuclear-armed Soviet missiles in Cuba

Iran

Hostage

Crisis

(1979-

1980)

a 444-day period during which the new government of Iran after the

Iranian Revolution held hostage 66 diplomats and U.S. citizens,

beginning on November 4, 1979 and ending on January 20, 1981

Terrorism

(9/11/01)

four coordinated attacks launched by an Islamic terrorist group (al-

Qaeda) upon the United States ; the targets were New York City and

Washington, DC.

International Organizations and

Citizen ParticipationThe end of World War II (see Benchmark 4.3) brought with it an emphasis on

the role of citizens in world affairs.

The staggering loss of life and high casualties due to the war itself as well as

the Holocaust brought attention to several issues to which citizens paid

attention. Being aware about human rights concerns has shaped citizens’

political and civic behavior.

Technology has also contributed to increased citizen involvement on the world

stage because new ways of learning about global issues have become more

prominent.

North American Free Trade Agreement

(1994)

NAFTA

Organization

Description

Role of Citizens

and Governments

in the Organization

NAFTA is a formal

agreement among

the governments of

the U.S., Canada,

and Mexico to form

a free trade zone in

North America and

eliminate taxes on

the buying and

selling of each

others’ products.

The U.S., Canada

and Mexico

governments

encourage the sale

and purchase of each

others’ goods.

North Atlantic Treaty Organization

(NATO)(1949)

NATO

Organization

Description

Role of Citizens

and Governments

in the Organization

Protect the member

countries from

attack, keep peace

and security around

the world even when

it involves

nonmember

countries, and

provide natural

disaster assistance.

A country must meet

membership criteria

in order to join

NATO. An

individual can

support the

organization by

working for NATO.

International Red Cross/

Red Crescent (1863)

International Red Cross

Organization

Description

Role of Citizens

and Governments

in the Organization

To respond to

disasters, run

programs in their

local communities

and visit prisoners of

war or civilians

imprisoned during

times of conflict.

Individuals can

support the

organization in

multiple ways:

donate money,

support through

social media,

volunteer, work for

the organization, and

raise awareness.

United Nations (1945)

United Nations

Organization

Description

Role of Citizens

and Governments

in the Organization

The UN is an

organization founded

to keep the peace,

develop friendly

relationships among

countries, and

improve the quality

of life for the world’s

poor people; consists

of 193 member

countries.

Countries can join

the UN by decision

of the General

Assembly upon the

recommendation of

the Security Council.

Individuals can

support the UN by

donating money,

interning for the UN

or working for the

UN.

United Nations Children’s Fund (1946)

UNICEF

Organization

Description

Role of Citizens

and Governments

in the Organization

UNICEF focuses

their work on a

variety of children’s

issues throughout the

world. For example,

education, sanitation,

and protecting

children from

violence.

Individual citizens

can support UNICEF

by donating money,

supporting through

social media, signing

up for the newsletter,

and purchasing a

UNICEF gift and

working or interning

for the organization.

World Court (1945)

World Court

Organization

Description

Role of Citizens

and Governments

in the Organization

This organization

acts as a world court

and handles cases

where two nations

are in conflict and

provides legal advice

for UN member

nations.

Countries can

become members

through meeting the

requirements to join

the UN. Individuals

can intern or work at

the World Court.

World Trade Organization (1995)

WTO

Organization

Description

Role of Citizens

and Governments

in the Organization

The WTO is an

international body

founded in 1995 to

promote international

trade and economic

development by

reducing taxes and

other restrictions.

The WTO provides a

forum for negotiating

agreements aimed at

reducing obstacles to

international trade

and ensuring a level

playing field for all,

thus contributing to

economic growth and

development

(www.wto.org).